Bully x Bullied

Chapter 6: Birth Of An Awkward New Friendship

It was almost a week since the new kid arrived and turned everything in Jake's life upside down. They didn't get into anymore fights after that incident in the corridor, but they didn't get anymore closer either. Jake was extremely awkward to even say so much as a small "Hi" or a "Hello" to the blonde. And Mark just didn't have the courage to make the first move when it came to Jake, but can you blame him? He did get beat up and threatened by the jock. Though they did share a friendly moment in that corridor once, it still didn't make him feel any less cowardly. Only when it came to Jake.

So when their English teacher announced that they need to do a literature project with one of their seniors to help them get it right, he did NOT think about asking Jake to help him out. Really he didn't... Ok fine, he might have considered asking the jock but really, he didn't think he would toughen up and do it anytime soon. Or ever.

In lunch that day, it wasn't a surprise to find Mark in his usual spot at the table in the very back of the cafeteria, but it was indeed surprising to find him banging his head on the said table, as if his life was a living hell and he just HAD to end it. If you asked him, he might say that it is.

Jake entered the cafeteria and as usual let his eyes drift to the very back, as he always found him there, reading or listening to music or doing both simultaneously.. Not banging his head like he seemed to be busy with at the moment. That is quite weird.

Ron slung his arm over his shoulder and whispered, "aren't ya gonna go and see what's wrong with that kid?", making him whip his head around to face him, startled, and give him a 'what the fuck?!' look.

Ron pulled away and shrugged as he left his friend at the entrance to join their other friends at their lunch table.

Jake frowned as he considered going there.

Mark who had, by now, stopped trying to damage his skull and brain, just let his head rest on his table as he thought about what he should do for that damned project.

He was just about ready to start banging his head again when he heard someone cough next to him to get his attention. He turned his head to face the sound but didn't lift it off the table till he noticed from who the said sound came from. And when he did, he sat up straight so damn fast, you'd think he was a vampire.

Jake cleared his throat and asked with as much awkwardness as there could be, "is this seat taken..?", someone please kill him now.

Mark blushed at the pick-up-line like statement and assured himself that it probably didn't mean anything, and said in a shaky voice, "uh no it's not.. You can sit if you want to", and blushed more as he looked down and cursed himself for being so damn nervous.

Jake smiled as he blushed a bit himself. He sat from across Mark and cleared his throat again.

"Is something wrong..?", he finally asked.

Mark looked a bit taken aback by the question but shook his head 'no' as he replied, "No, why do you ask?"

Jake frowned as he said, "well then, I assume its completely normal for you to bang your head on this poor table?"

Mark blushed and cursed himself to have been so damn stupid, 'of course he caught you, you dumbass, you did it in a damned caf where people are always crowded!', he continued to blush and curse himself, completely forgetting about the jock in front of him, until he was snapped out of it by what the jock said next.

".. Right, I'll just leave if you don't wanna talk about it", as he got up while mumbling a quiet apology.

Mark's eyes widened as he said a little too loud, "NO! Wait a second!", gaining the attention of all the people in the cafeteria and successfully startling one Jake Delhomme.

Well.. That's one way to get things "right"...

" uh..", said person blushed so red, you'd think he was Hellboy.

Jake smiled at the blushing blonde and sat back down. He waited for blonde to snap out of it and start speaking.

Mark awkwardly cleared his throat and said with a blush still playing on his cheeks, "we were given this project on English literature that we are supposed to do with a senior, so they could help us get it right or something apparently. And.. I have no idea who to ask..?", he blushed more as he lied through his teeth. 'toughen up and ask him, you dumbass!', he said to himself.

Jake blinked as he processed what he had just said. He scratched the back of his head and rubbed his neck awkwardly as he sighed and said, "you probably don't wanna ask me, so well, I can introduce you to some of my friends, they're all nice so I'm sure they'd help", he finished as he looked away sighing again.

Mark gulped as he tried to calm his raising heart. He took a deep breath as he said in a low voice, "actually.. I thought you wouldn't want to help me.. Umm.. So well..", Mark hesitated -Jake just sat there, gaping and unusually nervous- but continued, "can you uh help me out, if you don't mind..?", he finished and blushed darker than ever.

Jake grinned, surprising himself with how esthetic he felt about being asked about such a casual matter. "sure, I'd love to help", he grinned wider but suddenly realized something which made him frown. He looked serious as he muttered lowly, "I haven't apologized for how I treated you yet, have I? I'm extremely sorry for what I did", he looked away guiltily as he rubbed his neck again nervously.

Mark just blinked as he thought this over again, trying to figure out if he had actually heard it or just imagined it.

Jake, extremely anxious at this point, hurriedly added, "I understand if you don't wanna forgive me for it"

Mark snapped out of his confused daze when he heard this and rushed a reply of, "no no! I totally forgive you! I already had like a week ago!", he then mumbled under his breath, "I did mean it when I said I liked you then..", and added a little louder, "I was just surprised to hear you apologize, is all", he scratched the back of his head awkwardly and blushed as he gave a crooked smile.

Jake smiled, relived, as he got up to leave, "I'll head back then, tell me when you wanna start the project and I'll help out", he waved and left to sit with his friends. 'I meant it too when I said that I liked you.. ', he thought to himself as he reached his table.

Mark waved back with a ridiculously cheesy smile, as he blushed at the thought of spending time with this jock who seemed to make him feel all sorts of weird things.

This will be quite interesting indeed.